Shutters Vs. Drapes

Shutters and drapes effectively regulate room light in different ways.

One of the most critical elements of room decor is light. Your window treatment choices determine how well light functions in your overall decorative scheme. Good window treatments enhance attractive views, hide unappealing ones and preserve your privacy at home. Among the abundance of decor options, shutters and drapes remain excellent choices for light, temperature and privacy control. Weigh the pros and cons of each treatment to determine what best meets your needs.

Managing Light

The size of your windows, the direction they face and the surrounding landscape all determine how much light enters a room. The function of shutters or drapes will be to control the quality of that light. You can open shutters into the room, letting light in fully, or adjust their tilting louvers to filter in lesser amounts. Where the view is unattractive, shutters let in only light. Drapes tend to segment light more than filter it, restricting light by the degree to which they are open or closed. Translucent or open-weave fabrics, however, turn drapes into light filters, with the added attraction of color or pattern not offered by shutters.

Providing Privacy

Both shutters and drapes can provide excellent privacy. Behind large pieces of furniture, drapes with side pull cords may be easier to maneuver than the latches and louver-bars of shutters. However, if privacy is a major factor in choosing drapes or shutters, make certain that drapery fabric is impenetrable to light.

Shutters -- Materials and Costs

Choose shutters when you want a subdued window treatment that will last for many years. Shutters come in tiered, half-height, also known as cafe-style, and full-height styles. Materials range from fine woods to prefinished resins. Initial costs are your primary expense. Standard-sized ready-made shutters need only a little DIY experience to install, although large or odd-shaped windows may need more expensive custom work.

Drapes -- Materials and Cost

Often floor-length, generously gathered, with pleated headers and perhaps valances, drapes constitute a major style statement in your room. Fabrics can include light, translucent gauze or chiffon, but drapes more often function as a decorative wall, closing out light when needed and providing a substantial frame for a window when open. The huge spectrum of drapery materials lets you create a distinctive look, whatever your budget, although fabric durability varies widely.

Maintenance

Shutters can last for years with no more care than frequent dusting. Like woodwork, shutters may need occasional refinishing because of exposure to light and air, and they are usually easy to repaint when you redecorate. Unlike woodwork, however, they are sometimes difficult to refinish or repaint in place. You may need to remove and reinstall them to get the best results. Drapes usually need dry cleaning to keep their shape. Plan twice-yearly dry-cleaning to keep them in top condition. Durability depends on many factors but you can plan on their lasting five to 10 years. A southern exposure, forced-air heating or frequent opening of an outside door all can shorten the lives of drapes.

Energy Efficiency

Shutters and drapes both can contribute to reducing radiant heat and cold from windows by creating an insulating air pocket between the window treatment and the window pane. According to the trade group Smart Energy Alliance, shutters can double or triple the insulating capacity of your windows, with energy efficiency ratings of between R-2.77 and R-3.17. Look for efficiency ratings on thermal-fabric and other lined drapes, which may range from R-3 to R-5, when drapes are completely closed. The United States Department of Energy notes that thermal-lined drapes can also reduce radiant window heat by as much as a third.

About the Author

Janet Beal has written for various websites, covering a variety of topics, including gardening, home, child development and cultural issues. Her work has appeared on early childhood education and consumer education websites. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Harvard University and a Master of Science in early childhood education from the College of New Rochelle.